Public Group on Water and Sanitation

Introduction

Belarus is strongly committed to its own development pattern based on active state involvement in the economy, directive planning, and overall control of economic flows, heavy social expenditures, and large scale subsidisation of the public sector. Until 2008, Belarus enjoyed high growth rates of over 8% on average, growing even more rapidly than its CIS counterparts. However, starting from 2009, negative trends in the Belarusian economy intensified

Belarus faces several social challenges related to public health and social inclusion.

According with the MIP (click here for document), EU projects focusing on these sectors are likely to receive the highest support of the Belarusian government: Social inclusion; Environment; Local / Regional economic development.

Focus Sectors budget

Water

Overall objectives

Waste water management is one of the specific objectives of the Environment focus sector, which overall objective is to support environmental national efforts on policy, legislative, institutional and operational levels, including the involvement of civil society actors.

Country Context

Water quality, waste management, nature protection, soil degradation, industrial pollution and radioactive contamination from the Chernobyl accident in 1986 remain key issues in Belarus significantly affecting the population, the environment and the economy.

Image

Source: Interakcia / EC

Specific objectives and the main expected results

SO2 - Support to effective waste management, with a special focus on air emissions, water waste, and hazardous waste and support to green economy initiatives;

R.1. Improved legislation and environmental management on quality of air, waste water with new waste water treatment standards effectively enforced